Liquid-elevator



(No Model.)

' L. SOHUTT'E.

LIQUID ELEVATOR.

No. 248,355. Patented Oct. 18,1881.

N. PEYERS. Phnm-Llthogmphur. Washinglnm D. c.

UNIT D STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS SOHUTTE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

LlQUlD-ELEVATO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 248,355, dated October18, 1881.

Application filed June 17, 1881.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LoUIs SoHUTTn, of Philadelphia, in the county ofPhiladelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certainImprovements in Methods of and Apparatus for Elevating Fluids, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to a novel construction and combination of parts bymeans of which liquids may be raised to any required height by meansofjuctioin-the apparatus being designed to raise fluids by a single liftto a height greater than thirty-two feet, the limit beyond which it isimpossible to effect an elevation by the ordinary system of apparatus.

The invention consists, more particularly, in the combination, with alift-pipe to which a continuous suction is applied, of an air-admissionvalve communicating with the lift or suction pipe ata pointabove thelevel of theliquidsupply, or below the level to which the fluid columnwould rise under atmospheric presspressure; in the combination of asuction or lift pipe, an air-admission valve above the level of thefluid-supply, a receiver, a dischargepipe, and a valve or seal for thedischargepipe; in combining with the air-valve, located as above stated,a diaphragm or piston controlled by the vacuum in the receiver orsuction pipe for the purpose of controlling the admission of air to thelift-pipe in combining with the air-admission valve of an apparatus suchas above described an independent pendulum or time apparatus by whichthe openingand closing of the air-valve is controlled, and in combiningwith anexhausting apparatus or device one or more liquid-elevators, eachhaving a suction or lift pipe, an air-admission valve above the foot ofsaid pipe, a dischargepipe above the air-valve, and a valve or seal forclosing the discharge-pipe.

My invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms ofapparatus, all of which will have substantially the same mode ofoperation.

My method of elevating the fluids is based upon the fact that if anupright suction or lift pipe communicating at its upper end with avacuum or partial vacuum or exhausting apparatus be connected at itsfoot with a fluid- (No model.)

supply, the suction will cause the fluid to rise in the pipe to a heightcorresponding with the degree of the vacuum, never exceeding the limitof thirty-two feet, and that if at this time air be admitted into thepipe at a point above the level of the fluid-supply and below the top ofthe column in the pipe, that portion of the liquid standing above thepoint of air-admission will be forced upward through the pipe by theexcess of atmospheric pressure represented by the height of the liquidcolumn between the point of air-admission and the supply-level. in thisway the fluid may be carried above the usual limit of thirty-two feet bya single lift and with a continuous pipe.

The form of the apparatus employed is immaterial, provided it is adaptedto secure the above-described mode of action.

The accompanying drawings represent that form of apparatus which isdeemed the best for general use, and also certain modified forms of thesame.

Figure 1 represents a vertical central section through my apparatus inits most approved form, the same being constructed to operateautomatically. Fig. 2 is a view showing the manner in which a liquidseal may be substituted for the valve for closing the mouth of thedischarge-pipe. Fig. 3 is a view illustratin g the application of ahand-lever in place of the automatic valve represented in Fig. 1 foroperating the air-admission valve. Fig. 4 is a view illustrating theapplication of a pendulum or time movement to control the opening andclosing of the air-admission valve.

Referring to Fig. 1, A represents a tank or reservoir containing thefluid which it is required to elevate.

B represents a suction or lift pipe dipping at its lower end in thefluid in tank A, and extending thence upward into and nearly to the topof a receiving or vacuum chamber, (J, located at or above the level towhich it is required to deliver the fluid.

D represents a steam jet exhauster connected with the chamber 0, for thepurpose of maintaining a vacuum or partial vacuum therein. The exhausterD may be of the well-known Korting pattern, or of any other suitablepattern; or, if preferred, it may be replaced by a rotary exhauster, areciprocating pump, or any other suitable apparatus which will producethe required vacuum in chamber 0. The vacuum-chamber is provided at itsbase with a discharge or delivery pipe, E, the mouth of which is closedby means ofa valve, F, through which the fluid is finally delivered intothe tank or receiver G.

H represents an air-admission pipe, comm unicating with the pipe B at apoint below that to which the fluid is elevated by the vacuum. This pipeH is provided at its mouth with a valve, I, by which it may be sealed,the valve being connected by a stem or spindle with a flexiblediaphragm, K, which forms the under side of a 'acuum-chamber, L, thechamber L communicating by means of a small tube, M, with thevacuum-chamber (J, as shown in the drawings. For the purpose ofmaintaining the air-valve I normally in a closed position a weightedlever, N, is connected therewith, as shown in the drawings. Below thepoint at which the air-admission valve communicates with the lift-pipe Bthe latter is provided, as shown, with an up wardly-opening check-valve,0, this valve being advantageous, but not a necessary part of theapparatus.

The parts being constructed and arranged as above, the operation is thenas follows: The exhauster, being set in action, produces a vacuum orpartial vacuum in the receptacle C, and then in the entire system ofpipes. The liquid will then rise from the supply tank or reservoir A, inthe foot of lift-pipe B, to a height corresponding with the degree ofthe vacuum, which will ordinarily be to the level indicated by A in thedrawings, the same being at a point considerably above the air-admissionvalve. The vacuum-chain her communicating through pipe M with thediaphragm K, the air-pressure causes the latter to open the air-valve I,thereby admitting air through the pipe H into the pipe B below the topof the fluid column. The effect is that that portion of the liquidstanding above the air-admission valve will be forced upward by theexcess of atmospheric pressure represented by the height of the liquidcolumn below the point of air-admission, and delivered from the top ofpipe B into the receptacle C, whence it is discharged through valve Finto receptacle G. The height to which the fluid is caused to ascend inpipe B being indicated by theletter A, the liquid column, of course,parts or divides at the point of air-admission. The upper portion of thecolumn is carried upward with a force represented by and correspondingto the height of theliquid column 0. As soon as the upper or dividedportion of the liquid column represented by B is discharged from thepipe B into receptacle 0 air will fol low in sutficient quantity todestroy the vacuum, and the liquid will then be discharged automaticallythrough the valve F. The vacuum in the chamber 0 being thus destroyed orreduced, the diaphragm L is permitted to fall and close theair-admission valve, whereupon the previously-described operation willbe repeated, and so on continuously.

The weight applied to effect the closing of the air-valve will be of asize corresponding with the height to which the fluid is to he elevated,the weight being increased or diminished, according to circumstances.

If the pipe M communicating with the diaphragm is of sufficient area,the reduction of the vacuum above the diaphragm and the closing of theair-valve will occur almost instantaneousl y after the liquid has passedthe top of the pipe B, and this is the desired condition. When, however,itis necessary to allow a length of time for the valve F to remain openwhile the liquid is being discharged the time for the reduction of thevacuum above the diaphragm may be controlled by means of a cock, U, orother throttling device applied to the pipe M.

Where the apparatus is to be operated to elevate fluids to excessiveheights it may be found advantageous to place the diaphragm near thereceptacle (1, and to connect with the valve I by a rod, so as to avoidthe repeated evacuations of the pipe M.

The air-admission pipe may be extended upward, so as to place the valvebeyond the fluid.

In some cases it may be desirable to operate two or more apparatus suchas described by one and the same exhauster, in which case suitablevalves will be used between the receptacle O and the exhauster to securethe action of the exhauster alternately in connection with the twochambers.

As before stated, the check-valve O is not required; but its use isdesirable, for the reason that it avoids the necessity of repeatedlyelevating the fluid to the level of the air-admission point, as wouldotherwise be required.

It will be observed that by my method of constructing the apparatus itis adapted to elevate fluids to any height which may be required, itsoperation not being restricted to the limited heights within whichordinary vacuum apparatus must be operated.

Instead of permitting the air-valve I to remain open a sufficient lengthof time to maintain the destruction or reduction of the vacuum inchamber 0, the discharge-pipe E may be-made of a length somewhat inexcess of the height of the fluid column corresponding with the highestvacuum under which the exhauster works. Such an arrangement isrepresented in dotted lines in Fig. 1. When thus constructed theair-valve may be closed the instant that the liquid column has passedthe top of the suction-pipe B.

Instead of making use of the valve F upon the discharge-pipe, a liquidseal, such as represented in Fig. 2, may be advantageously substituted.In such case the contents of the sealing or receiving vessel from thebottom of the discharge-pipe to the liquid-level should be somewhatgreater than the cubic contents of the discharge-pipe E, and thevertical distance between the bottom of the vessel 0 and the level ofthe sealing-fluid should be somewhat greater than the height of thefluid column A.

The admission of air through valve I at the proper time may becontrolled by a hand-lever, such as is represented in Fig. 3, or by atime mechanism, such as is shown in Fig. 4. The time-movement shown inFig. 4 consists of a rotating cam, P, which acts upon the air-admissionvalve through rod Q to open and close the same. Rotary motion isimparted to this cam through a ratchet-wheel attached thereto and a pawloperating upon said wheel, and pivoted to an arm upon a rock-shaft, R,the latter being provided with a pendulum, S, to regulate its motion,and connected with the piston of a small steam-cylinder, T, from whichlatter motion is imparted to the rock-shaft and pendulum.

The pendulumbob is adjustable upon its supporting-rod, and is made ofsuch weight as to control the action of the piston under varyingpressures within ordinary limits. By raising and lowering thependulum-bob the speed with which the air-admission valve is opened andclosed may be nicely regulated.

The pendulum or other time mechanism may be applied when the valve ismoved by the vacuum.

1 am aware that a steam-blast directed upward has been introduced at acentralpoint in a fluid-conducting pipe, the fluid being raised bysuction a distance less than thirty-two feet by the blast and thendriven orforced upward a few feet above the same, and this I do notclaim.

In my system the fluid is raised the entire distance, more thanthirty-two feet, by suction.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim is 1. The improvement inthe art of elevating fluids byatm p ericprmsure, consisting in extendingthe fluid-conductor above the level to which the fluid column will riseby atmospheric pressure, applying a vacuum above the level named andlimiting the fluid column to be elevated to a length less thanthirty-two feet, whereby the shortened column is caused to rise abovethe usual limit of atmospheric elevation.

2. In avacuum apparatusfor elevating fluids, a suction-pipe extending toa height greater than that to which a fluid column would rise underatmospheric pressure, and means, substantially as described, whereby thefluid to be elevated is separated into short columns each of a lengthless than thirty-two feet.

3. In an apparatus for elevating fluids by atmospheric pressure, afluid-suction pipe extending above the fluid supply a distance greaterthan thirtytwo feet, in combination with means, substantially asdescribed, for dividing the ascending fluid into columns of less thanthirty-two feet in length and admitting atmospheric air beneath each ofsaid columns.

4. In a vacuum fluid-elevator, the combination of a suction-pipe throughwhich the fluid is elevated and an air-admission valve communicatingwith the suction-pipe above the level of the liquid-supply, but belowthe level of the liquid-discharge.

5. The herein-described method of elevating fluids, the same consistingin applying a vacuum to elevate the fluid in the foot of a pipe, andsubsequently admitting air to said pipe at a point below the top andabove the foot of the fluid column, substantially as described.

6. In a vacuum fluid-elevator, the combination of a suction-pipe throughwhich the fluid is elevated, a fluid-supply at its base, and anair-admission valve communicating with said pipe below the point ofdelivery and above the fluid-supply.

7. The combination of the suction-pipe, the air-admission valve, locatedas described, the vacuum-chamber extending downward around and below themouth of the suction-pipe, the exhauster, and the discharge-valveconnected with the vacuum-chamber.

8. The combination of a suction-pipe, anairvalve located below the levelto which the fluid" is elevated by atmospheric pressure, and automaticdevices, substantially such as described, for effecting the opening andclosing of the airvalve by means of the vacuum or suction in thelift-pipe.

9. The combination of the lift-pipe, the airvalve located as described,the diaphragm for operating said valve, the chamber at the top of thelift-pipe, and the pipe extending from said vacuum-chamber to thechamber above the diaphragm.

10. The combination of the suction-pipe, the air-admission valve locatedabove the fluidsupply and below the point to which the fluid column israised by atmospheric pressure, and a check-valve located in thesuction-pipe at'or below the level of the air-valve.

11. The combination of the suction-pipe, the air-admission valve, and atime mechanism to control the opening and closing of the valve.

LOUIS SOHUTTE.

Witnesses:

BENTON 0. SEVERN, W. R. SooTT.

